For Silver & Wright LLP Attorney Amanda Jones, earning a paycheck has never been enough — she also wants to use her career and talents to make a difference for her community.
Prior to joining Silver & Wright, Amanda worked as an enforcement attorney for the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) where she was tasked with protecting salmon and their habitats in California. Challenged by the litigation complications involved with water rights issues, Amanda chose to refocus her efforts where she could have a greater impact.
“I really wanted to make a direct and immediate impact on the local or state level,” said Amanda.
After leaving NOAA to raise her family, Amanda began volunteering with the City of Laguna Niguel’s Parks & Recreation Commission. She became interested in understanding how cities allocate funds, identifying problem areas, and learning how commissions work with municipal leaders to pursue the best interests of the city.
“I liked being able to work on problems that I could actually see in my community. Having young children, I used a lot of the parks in my city all the time and I wanted to be involved in their improvement,” said Amanda.
With her community-enhancement mindset and altruistic spirit intact, Amanda began looking to return to the workforce to fight for community improvement and rehabilitation.
“I wanted to do something that was meaningful and where I could have an immediate impact,” said Amanda. “As part of the interview process at Silver & Wright, the partners described the type of work that they do: working with cities to solve problems. The litigation that we’re doing can really make a difference in these communities improving and saving lives, and that’s the type of work that motivates me.”
Since joining Silver & Wright more than a year ago, Amanda has channeled her passion for community improvement into her nuisance abatement, receivership, code enforcement, and municipal law practice at the firm.
“Amanda has proven herself as an integral part of our small but talented team at the firm,” said Founding Partner Curtis Wright. “Her dedication to serving and improving communities is visible through her determination, work ethic, and the results she delivers for clients.”
Most recently, Amanda worked with the City of Livingston in Merced County to turn a neglected rental apartment property plagued by graffiti, vandalism, and squatters into a beautiful and functioning apartment complex. The property has been completely renovated and now is home to six long-term tenants for the first time in more than 10 years.
“There’s a lot of labor in the City, but not a lot of housing, so it was great to be able to give some of that housing back to the City,” said Amanda. “It’s really a win-win for the City and the community, and a great example of the program working the way it’s supposed to.”
Read about the entire Silver & Wright team.
Silver & Wright LLP attorneys deliver municipal legal services, specializing in receiverships, nuisance abatement, code enforcement, public safety, police services, civil rights litigation, and lawsuit defense. Leveraging their unique experience, cutting-edge legal concepts, and effective use of existing laws, they help cities and counties throughout California increase public safety, combat blight, and save funds. Silver & Wright’s passion for code enforcement is reflected in their volunteer service and legislative advocacy.